Chapter 20: Four Years Later

“Phew… I’m tired…”

I’m sitting in my exclusive research and development room on the church’s second floor, finally finished crafting the structural formula for the A5-sized metal sheet.

Staring at the blueprints laid on my desk, I stretch my back, rubbing my stiff shoulder. The finished drawings number ten sheets in total. Once I let the special magic-power-infused ink dry off for a day, the first phase of the operation will be completed.

Since this is an integral part of the ‘Hot-Blooded Alarm (With Built-In Explosive Function) No. 8,’ I can’t slack off. If I mess up even one pattern or letter, there’s a chance that it will explode. And when that happens, I’m afraid not only I’ll get hurt, but my surroundings too.

Since the demons are coated in miasma and magic power with a nature that’s different from the rest of the world, if I want to inflict any damage to them, I need to craft the structural formula of the defensive gadgets by hand.

Imagine the headache if I make a mistake, and the Hot-Blooded Alarm suddenly reacts with humans and animals instead.

For that reason, structural formula crafting requires extreme precision.

After this, I need to make its source of power, a stone infused with magic power called the ‘Magic Origin Stone.’ It’s pretty much like a battery. I’ll assemble it in a waterproof box and test it. If there are no problems, then it’s finished.

Talking about magic power…

…I can only directly charge it, huh. This time, I need to pace myself and take care so that I won’t collapse from magic exhaustion.

From the half-opened window blows a gentle breeze. As I peer outside, I catch sight of mountains in the distance, the trees in the garden painted pleasant shades of green.

Between these trees is one with peach-colored flowers similar to the shade of cherry blossoms.

But the shape of the flowers resemble red lilies, making it a bit peculiar… Auspicious or unlucky, all in all it’s a weird tree. Why don’t you just copy the flower shape of cherry blossoms? Do you want to seem unique or something? I definitely don’t need that kind of attention to detail. I’ll be happier with the usual cherry blossoms.

Since then, four years pass.

I am currently sixteen years old. At the spring of next year, I will graduate from the municipal school. And then this long school life will finally come to an end.

Sadly, even now, the goddess has yet to contact me.

I wonder why.

As I’ve thought, something must’ve happened.

Since I have no means of contacting her from here, I spend my days at the church praying things like “since you’re the one who urgently contacted me first, don’t you think you should come and talk to me and take responsibility? Just talk to me already or I will seriously get mad and sue you, damn it.”

Anyway, the future hero is growing well.

As the result of my secret teaching, he’s now strong in both sword and magic, to the point that even the teacher can’t beat him.

Well, he’s still no match for me, though!

It’s just that… Since things have become pretty dangerous lately, I’ve worked even harder on my fencing so that he won’t beat me in a fight. As such, the energy I have left for researching the structural formulas is very limited. But until he graduates from the municipal school, no way will he overpower me.

The height that used to be the same as mine steadily advances, and just like that, he’s become taller than me by one head. He seems the type to suddenly grow up in a late growth spurt. His muscles have also developed properly, giving him the appearance of a young man.

On the other hand.

…My height… completely stoppe—

No. That’s wrong. What am I saying? It hasn’t stopped. Definitely not.

At the previous physical examination, didn’t I grow five millimeters taller? I still have signs of growth. That’s right. That must be it.

Alright. Let’s think of more productive topics. First of all, there’s still many events in the arc. Especially those related to school.

I open the diary-plus-record book that I have on me.

I flip through it, searching for a page smack between several labels and notes. The page where I’ve recorded notes for some of the events.

Hmm. Yep. There’s still one school event left.

It’s the [School Fencing Contest], the last school lesson in which Lian will play an important role, a serious competition where we use real swords.

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During this event, a lot of important people from the Royal Capital’s Knight Academy will come to scout the students. So it’s a pretty important contest.

Social class doesn’t matter. Anyone can get a recommendation as long as their results are incredible. Therefore, students who desire to be knights will desperately practice and strive their best.

Of course, Lian also dreamed of having a successful career in the royal capital, so he’d try his best as well.

Commanding officers from the Royal Knights Order will also take a look at the competition. If students happen to catch their attention, that’s a guaranteed job upon graduating from the Knight Academy.

As long as they are assigned to a knight squadron under the direct command of the Royal Knights Order, such as the Imperial Guard Squad or the Royal Knight Squad, their future is set. Since they’ll be assigned only to the Royal Capital, the job is easy and has a large salary. Not to mention a cushy pension and respect from the public galore.

Lian’s father also works in the capital, so Lian’s certain he’ll get selected. But in society, things seldom go as one wishes.

Because Lian loses completely to Alfred in the last round.

Alfred finally knocks down the annoying rival who hindered his path for such a long time.

With that, the final school event is cleared.

Since I just need to lose in this event, I don’t have to think about anything. How great. If only it comes sooner. I mean, can’t you come quicker?! I want to finish my role already!

Finished reviewing what’s coming next, I close my diary-and-record book.

Let’s take a little break.

Like what Marie has said before, if I persist too much, I’ll only tire myself out and lower my efficiency. I should rest properly when it’s time to rest.

I take a sip from Marie’s special blended tea and munch on the tea cookies that I bought Marie as a souvenir.

Humming as I rise from my seat, I make my way out of the research and development room.

Once I’m standing in the first floor dining room, I catch sight of Marie writing.

Marie often writes, sews, and completes some church chores in the dining room. The dining room table is large and easy to use, and she has a great view of the little kids playing in the garden from the three large windows.

Noticing me, Marie lifts her face from her documents and flashes me a smile with her apple-like cheeks.

“Oh my, Lian-sama. You’ve worked hard. Are you taking a break?”

I return her smile and nod. “Yes, that’s right.”

“Hehe, is that so? Then I will make some delicious tea. I’ve also just thought of taking a break. Please wait here for a little bit, okay? That’s right… How is today’s blended tea? Is it to your liking?”

“The blended tea! Yes, I really like it! Ah, Marie-sama. Now that you’ve mentioned it, recently I’ve heard an interesting story from the tea leaf shop I frequently visit. It’s about a tea from the southern regions. Apparently, it’s sweet even without any sugar added. Since a shipment of it will arrive next week, I will bring some next time.”

“Oh! The tea from the south! Amazing! Sweet without any sugar, how mysterious! Hehe, I’ll be looking forward to it then.”

“Yes, please look forward to it!”

Laughing happily, Marie heads to the kitchen.

I sit in the chair and gaze out the window.

Six or seven kids run around cheerfully in the garden, basking in the pleasant spring sunshine. They range from toddlers to elementary school children, and the slightly older boys and girls are currently kicking around a ball. As usual, they’re super energetic.

One kid pauses after noticing me, and after he says something, the other kids turn to me simultaneously.

After a while, the door leading to the courtyard swings open, and the kids rush into the dining room.

“It’s Lian-sama!”

“Yaay, Lian-sama!”

“Lwian-sama!”

“Maa!”

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“Yes, yes. It’s pretty nice out today. Doesn’t it feel good?”

“Yeah!”

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The kids cheer loudly and energetically.

“Hey, Lian-sama! Let’s play the ‘Daruman has fallen’ together! ‘Daruman has fallen’!”

“Pway!”

The kids hop around me like little bunnies.

‘Daruman has fallen‘ is an outdoor game I taught them.

Well, it’s almost the same as ‘Daruma has fallen.’ Okay, if I’m to be honest, it’s completely the same. It’s just that, in this world daruma don’t exist. That’s why I’m replacing it with a similar-sounding word that actually does exist here. Daruman, a round animal with red fur. Plus, it likes to roll. It kind of resembles a daruma too.

The rules of the game are as follows.

The person playing the demon will turn their back to everyone. The other kids will spread out far away. As the demon chants “Da. Ru. Man. Has. Fal. Len—”, the rest of the kids can slowly approach. After the demon finishes chanting the words, they will quickly flip around. If they see someone moving, that person will become the next demon.

Once someone finally touches the demon’s back, the demon will be free to catch the other kids. In that scenario, the other kids will scatter and run away, and the unlucky person caught by the demon becomes the next demon.

I don’t really get it, but it is thrilling, endless, and aggressive, so it’s no surprise that the kids love the game. It’s now super popular among them.

“Hmm. Okay. Let’s do it.”

Maybe it will be good to move my body a little. I’ve just been sitting in a chair this whole morning.

“Yaaayyy!”

“Hurray! Let’s play!”

The kids jump up and down in high spirits.

Marie, who returns to the dining room with a tray of cups and a streamy teapot, looks at me worriedly.

“Oh my, Lian-sama. You shouldn’t force yourself, all right? You must be tired, right?

“It’s okay, Marie-sama. I’ll just play a little bit. It won’t be a problem.”

“Even if you say so…”

“Thanks for making me tea. Marie-sama’s tea is delicious even while cold, so can you leave a portion for me?

“That’s fine, but… Are you really alright?

“I’m alright. Now let’s go, everyone.”

I stand up, heading towards the garden.

Thirty minutes later, I’m lying on the lawn in the courtyard.

My breath comes out in harsh puffs, and my head is spinning.

I completely forgot how endless children’s stamina and energy are. And I also forgot how this game is supposed to be never-ending.

Maybe staying up until one-thirty in the morning to think about energy-saving structural formulas, and jotting down notes in my record book, was a bad idea.

“Lian-sama! Are you alright…?”

“Are you alwight?”

“Alwight…?”

“I’m a-alright… Sorry… Can you let me rest a little?”

The kids reply with an ‘okaaay,’ and dash towards the courtyard.

Those kids are too energetic. Where do they store all that energy in those little bodies? Share a little with me too.

The four remaining kids lie down on both of my sides. Seems like they want to take a nap with me together.

Since they stick close to me, I stroke their hair until it becomes disheveled, and they squeal and blush happily.

I glance at my wrist watch. It’s exactly 1 o’clock. There are still two hours until 3 o’clock tea time.

Well, if I sleep for an hour, it won’t be a problem, right?

The soft sunlight, the high body temperature of the kids, and the breeze brushing my cheeks softy make me feel pleasant.

As I take in the sensation of the soft grass beneath me, I close my eyes.

…I wonder what this feeling is.

There’s something somewhat… fluffy touching my head. Soft.

It smells like the sun. Even though it’s soft, it doesn’t feel like grass. More like the rustling texture of cloth.

And then.

Someone strokes my head.

With gentle hand.

Slowly.

It feels good, and makes me want to shed a few tears.

How many years has it been since someone has stroked my head?

Many years ago. It’s been too long.

I wonder if it’s Marie.

I beg you, please don’t launch a surprise attack by treating me gently.

It makes me want to burst into tears without a care in the world. And depend only on you.

Because my miserable side, the one who is very afraid and very close from running, will surface.

When I open my eyes, I realize I’m no longer in the garden. Instead, I’m in a plain room. I feel as if I have been here before.

…Huh?

I’m certain that I slept outside though. But now I’m lying on a bed. Why am I not sleeping on the grass?

Weird. Since when did I…

“…!?”

I suck in my breath.

Someone’s sitting below my arm.

Familiar golden hair that glistens. Uncommon and clear eyes the color of the sky, which are looked down by others. A simple shirt and jean trousers as usual.

It’s Alfred.

“Eehh!?!”

W-Why? What are you doing here?!

Special thanks to Reall-san, MsLori-san, blackcat686-san, Anon-san, and Mello-san for the ko-fi! I’ll post another bonus part when it’s finished! (●´ω`●)

Lian, just depend on Alfred already, what are you waiting for~ ⸜( ॑꒳ ॑* )⸝

And the kids are so cute!! Their baby speech!! Ahhh ahhh I can’t!! take!! it!!

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